Refraction (Edexcel GCSE Physics Combined Science): Flashcards
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Practise the cards
14 cards from this deck
What happens when waves change speed between media?
What happens when waves change speed between media?
Refraction - they change direction
Wave direction when slowing down
Wave direction when slowing down
Bends towards the normal
Wave direction when speeding up
Wave direction when speeding up
Bends away from the normal
What if wave enters at right angles (along normal)?
What if wave enters at right angles (along normal)?
Does not change direction
What is a wavefront?
What is a wavefront?
Imaginary line connecting same points in waves
What happens to wavelength entering denser medium?
What happens to wavelength entering denser medium?
Decreases (gets smaller)
What is angle of incidence ?
What is angle of incidence ?
Angle between incident wave and normal
What is angle of refraction ?
What is angle of refraction ?
Angle between refracted wave and normal
Direction when entering denser material
Direction when entering denser material
Bends towards the normal
Direction when entering less dense material
Direction when entering less dense material
Bends away from the normal
How do shorter vs longer wavelengths behave in dense medium?
How do shorter vs longer wavelengths behave in dense medium?
Shorter wavelengths slow down more
Which slows more in denser medium: blue or red light?
Which slows more in denser medium: blue or red light?
Blue slows down more than red
What is dispersion of white light in prism?
What is dispersion of white light in prism?
Different wavelengths refract differently, creating rainbow
What happens to speed & wavelength in denser material?
What happens to speed & wavelength in denser material?
Both decrease